Bathing-cap



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. B. WILLIAMS. BATHING GAP.

No. 482,773. Patented Sept.,20, 1892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. B. WILLIAMS.

BATHING GAP.

No. 482,773. Patented Sep'p. 20, 1892.

4 y a 2mm z fim M NrTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY B. WILLIAMS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BATHlNG-CAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,773, datedSeptember 20, 1892.

Application filed December 3, 1891. Serial No. 413,947. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. WILLIAMs, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bathing-Caps,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bathing-caps whereby the hair ofthe wearer is kept dry.

The characteristic feature of my invention is that it is made of twoflat disks of material united at the edges, and the disk which liesadjacent to the head of the wearer is madeof exceedingly-elasticindia-rubber and the head-opening made through it is reinforced by asupplemental or added rubber ring, which is preferably seamless and iscemented or otherwise attached to the other portion. The rubbercomposing the lower section of the cap is also preferably seamless.

In the drawings hereof, Figure 1 shows an elevation, partly inperspective, of one of my caps, it being distended as in use. Fig. 2 isa view similar to Fig. l, the cap, however, being collapsed more than inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View from the under side of the cap shown in Fig. 2.Fig. 4: is an elevation, partly in perspective, of an alternativeconstruction of the cap. Fig. 5 is a View from the underside of the capshown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the form shown in Figs.4 and 5. Fig. 7 illustrates an enlarged view of my cap when made in onepiece.

A is the crown of the cap. I prefer to make it of rubber; butitmay bemade of any equivalent waterproof material-such as silk or otherfabric-suitably treated with a waterproofing substance. It is in theform of a flat disk.

B is the part of the cap which under my invention must be of rubber orequivalent elastic and waterproof material. It is also in the form of aflat disk and is united to the" crown or upper disk ofthe cap at theedges O in any suitable manner.

D is the head-opening, and E is a reinforcing-band of rubber, which isattached to the edge of the head-opening in any preferred manner, as byan elastic waterproof cement or by the employment of naphtha when itwould be suitable. It will be observed that by the employment of myreinforcing-strip E, which is preferably cut out from a single flatpiece of rubber, so that it is seamless, the edge of the head-opening,which is very aptto split when carelessly adjusted,is reinforced, sothat splitting isavoided and, also, the edges are made to hug closely tothe forehead and about the head generally, so that the entrance of waterto wet the hair is avoided.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I show an alternative construction to that shown inFigs. 1, 2, and 3. In them it is practically essential that the twopieces or disks of rubber which constitute the upper section A and thelower section B shall be cut out in substantially circular form fromflat sheets of rubber. This necessitates waste. To avoid this, Isometimes make my caps as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6--that is to say,the lower disk B is made of a single straight strip of rubber, and togive it the necessary annular disk form it is folded in gusset-likefolds, (shown at F F, &c.) The material which is taken up by thesegusset-like folds on one edge gives, of course, an annular form to thestrip. The gussets run out as they approach the other edge of the strip.After the entire strip has been folded into an annular shape then togive it the disk form the meeting ends are united and cemented orotherwise fastened. Then the elastic band, which I call the cap fitting,strengthening, and water-excluding band, is placed over the inner endsof the gussets, and naphtha or its equivalent is preferably, althoughnot necessarily, applied. The ring is fastened in place, and the gussetsare likewise cemented shut or flat underneath the ring E, and Ipreferably apply the naphtha so that under the heavy pressure applied tothe article during the cementing operation it will be squeezed into thefolds of the gussets under and adjacent to the band E, so that they willall be firmly attached together, making, practically, a singlefirmstructure having a substantially flat disk-like shape.

In Fig. 6 I show the band E as broken away and the gussets F as somewhatelevated, not flattened down, as they are in the completed article. Theupper disk A of the cap in this instance, as in the other, may be madeof a single piece of rubber integral with the part B, or it may be madeof silk or other suitable material, preferably waterproofed; also, in-

stead of making the lower section B of the cap of a straight piece theupper section A and the lower section B may be made of a single piece ofrubber out out, as in the first instance, in the form of a substantiallyround disk, and then its edges being bent over toward the center of thedisk, the gussets will be formed in the bent-over edge and suitablyfastened, thus forming the two disks the same as in the first instance,and then the band E is applied about the centrally-located headopening,making the cap substantially as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and all of onepiece of material, except, of course, the band.

It will be obvious to those who are familiar with this art that certainalterations may be made in the details of construction of my improvedbathing-cap and still the essentials of my invention be employed.

I claim 1. A bathing-cap comprising, essentially, two fiat disks ofwaterproof material, the lower one being elastic and having aheadopening in it, and an elastic rubber band attached flatwise to thelower disk about the 'opening and a reinforcing-band of elastic rubberattached flatwise upon said disk around the edge of the head-opening,substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 31st day of August, A. D. 1891.

HARRY B. \VILLIAM S.

Witnesses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, J. E. HOFFMAN.

